Upon returning to the government office, subordinates reported that Li Yao had left word requesting Wen Yu to come over once she returned.

Wen Yu assumed it was to discuss the matter of the Southern Chen envoy’s upcoming visit again. She didn’t even return to her own quarters, but went directly with Zhao Bai to the courtyard where Li Yao resided alone: “Sir, you were looking for me?”

During the transitional season between green and yellow, the vegetable seedlings in Li Yao’s garden plot were growing well. He was bent over pulling weeds when Wen Yu arrived. Only after washing his hands clean in a nearby water bucket did he ask: “How is the situation with the disaster victims?”

Wen Yu replied: “Minister Chen handles affairs meticulously and has managed everything in perfect order. The breach of the Shao River levee didn’t lead to flooding either. Once the weather completely clears up, we can dispatch soldiers to help repair houses in the affected villages.”

Li Yao nodded. His aged, withered hand picked up a memorial tablet placed on a stone stump and handed it to Wen Yu: “Wengzhu, please take a look at this.”

After Wen Yu unfolded and read it, she wasn’t particularly surprised. She said: “Xinzhou successfully annexing Yizhou is both advantageous and disadvantageous to us.”

Li Yao said: “Explain.”

Seeing Li Yao sitting on the edge of the garden terrace, calmly twisting dried straw with his hands to weave straw sandals, Wen Yu helped hand him tools and said: “Pei Song has temporarily gained the upper hand on the northern battlefield. Wei Qishan’s capture of Yizhou clearly aims to compensate for this disparity on the southern battlefield. But as the saying goes, one mountain cannot contain two tigers. With Pei Song out of the picture on the southern battlefield, the competition between us and Wei Qishan will inevitably intensify. This is the disadvantage.”

Li Yao rubbed the dried grass in his hands and asked: “Then where is the advantage?”

Watching the half-finished straw sandal in his hands, Wen Yu said: “In the north, Wei Qishan must deal with Pei Song’s main forces. In the south, he now has us—a formidable enemy about to ally with Southern Chen. At that time, he’ll suffer heavy losses on both fronts. Given Wei Qishan’s calculations, he definitely won’t let himself fall into such a situation. Pingzhou and the two provinces of Yi and Xin shouldn’t go to war in the short term. Moreover, Wei Qishan might even try to befriend and ally with us.”

Li Yao nodded approvingly and offered guidance: “Your thoughts are correct, but that old fox Wei Qishan—able to plant the chess piece of Xinzhou in the south right when Pei Song was assassinated—his thinking is extremely meticulous and his calculations far-reaching. Your framing scheme with the cargo ships made him suffer a silent loss. Right now, constrained by circumstances, he can’t immediately settle accounts with you, so you mustn’t let your guard down. Previously, Pei Song could fight him to a standstill for two reasons: First, north of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, it was the depths of winter. The barbarian tribes beyond the pass, cut off from grain supplies, were eyeing Youzhou hungrily. Wei Qishan still had to guard against the northern tribes, so he couldn’t deploy his full main forces to fight Pei Song. Second, Wei Qishan is indeed a good father. The battles after Dingzhou showed he was rather using Pei Song to train his son.”

Wen Yu listened quietly, her hands hanging before her knees unconsciously gripping her sleeves tighter.

She had already tried her utmost to force herself to grow quickly, but her opponents were also far stronger than she had imagined.

No wonder Wei Qishan remained as steady as Mount Tai despite losing several cities in succession in the north. After spring, the barbarian tribes beyond the pass would have abundant water and grass, no longer under survival pressure, so naturally they wouldn’t keep their eyes fixed on Youzhou. Once this deadly noose around Wei Qishan’s neck loosened and he wanted to recover lost territory, under the crushing advance of Northern Wei’s main cavalry forces, she wondered if Pei Song could still withstand it.

Seeing Wen Yu lower her eyes in deep thought, clearly having taken his words to heart, Li Yao continued: “Before completely determining victory or defeat with Pei Song, Wei Qishan doesn’t want to go to war with us and sacrifice the Xin and Yi provinces he just captured in the south. But he also won’t be pleased to see us ally with Southern Chen and grow stronger. The news that the Southern Chen envoy was disrespectful and that Wengzhu angrily broke off the engagement is known to all. Wei Qishan’s side surely won’t miss this opportunity to sow discord.”

Wen Yu’s eyes flickered slightly: “Sir, are you saying Wei Qishan might also come to persuade me to cooperate?”

Li Yao nodded: “Wei Qishan wouldn’t have proactively extended an olive branch to Wengzhu before because at that time he had achieved nothing in the south. Although Pingzhou was guarded by Chen Wei, it was infiltrated by various forces and hadn’t solidified into an iron plate. Even if Wengzhu brought Pingzhou as a bargaining chip to join him, aside from gaining the support of the Great Liang officials and common people who support you, he wouldn’t gain any concrete benefits. Moreover, Pingzhou might turn around and be seized by Southern Chen. If Southern Chen then joined forces with Pei Song, he would be in a difficult position with no way forward or back.”

With Li Yao’s guidance, Wen Yu instantly understood the pros and cons involved and continued: “But the situation is different now. Pingzhou and Tao Commandery are entirely under my control, and Wei Qishan himself has also captured Xinzhou and Yizhou. I want to use these several prefectures to form a door bolt, and clearly Wei Qishan has thought of this too. As long as there are sufficient troops and continuous supplies, relying on the natural barrier of Bairen Pass outside Pingzhou will be enough to completely block Southern Chen outside the pass. The three prefectures of Yizhou, Xinzhou, and Tao Commandery forming a connected line can serve as a screen to block Pei Song’s forces from advancing south.”

She slowly raised her eyes: “Compared to us joining forces with Southern Chen and then annexing the Xin and Yi provinces he just captured, for Wei Qishan, it’s naturally most advantageous to use the pretext of cooperation, borrow our strength to block Southern Chen outside the pass, wait until he’s finished with Pei Song, then attack Southern Chen.”

Li Yao stroked his beard: “Precisely.”

His aged gaze passed over the gray-white courtyard walls, looking north toward the invisible Luodu and Fengyang, slowly saying: “Wengzhu now has one more choice.”

Wen Yu also gazed north toward the home province she couldn’t return to, remaining silent for a long while before asking: “Sir, what do you think—if Pei Song is defeated and Wei Qishan leads his army south, what fate will befall Pingzhou?”

Li Yao said: “That day when you came to this garden to ask this old man to strategize for you, I once asked you—what were you strategizing for?”

Wen Yu’s eyes remained as firm and resolute as before: “Yu’s answer that day is Yu’s choice.”

The wind rising from flat ground stirred her clothes and hair. She said: “But Yu will also not entrust her life into anyone else’s hands.”

With Southern Chen entering the game, she could strengthen herself amidst the mutual checks and balances of the three powers.

If she chose to cooperate with Wei Qishan, that would mean helping Wei Qishan block Southern Chen, letting the Wei army’s main forces determine victory or defeat with Pei Song before coming to settle accounts with her and Southern Chen.

Without absolute checks and balances of interests, no one could predict how Wei Qishan would treat her and Pingzhou at that time.

This concerned not only her own life, but also the lives of many officials loyal to her.

She must keep the power of choice forever in her own hands, rather than hoping for the mercy of those in superior positions.

If Wei Qishan were a benevolent ruler who governed well and won the hearts of all people, she would willingly retreat to a corner and not ignite the flames of war.

But if Wei Qishan wanted to eliminate all threats and leave no future troubles, when those so-called Northern Wei iron cavalry came trampling down, she would make them step right onto sharp blades.

Li Yao stroked his sparse gray-white beard, seeming to nod and smile, saying: “Wei Qishan doesn’t know your father king still left people in Southern Chen to work with you. The conditions he offers will likely not be as generous as Southern Chen’s side. But using this to scare Southern Chen a bit is feasible.”

Wen Yu bowed to Li Yao: “Many thanks for Sir’s guidance. Yu understands.”

—

Two days later, the envoy sent by Southern Chen to apologize entered the pass, but Wen Yu left him cooling his heels at the post house for several days without granting an audience.

As summer weather grew increasingly hot, the corpulent envoy paced back and forth anxiously in the post house courtyard, sweat beading in strings on his face, muttering: “…That old bastard Sikong has harmed me. Why did he have to show off on someone else’s territory? A perfectly good wedding reception turned into making enemies. If we had just escorted the person back to Southern Chen first, where would all these damn problems come from…”

The subordinate sent out to gather information hurried back and called out upon entering the courtyard: “Sir! The situation is dire!”

The corpulent envoy had already been left waiting for several days and was somewhat vexed and distracted. Hearing this, he became even more impatient and snapped: “Hanyang Wengzhu hasn’t even deigned to see this envoy—what could be more dire?”

The subordinate said: “Our people saw Northern Wei’s carriages and horses enter the city today, and Hanyang Wengzhu received them!”

The corpulent envoy had been fanning himself because of the heat, but upon hearing this he put away his folding fan and demanded: “How many people came?”

The subordinate replied: “Not many entered the city, but they brought several cartloads of things—looks like gifts for Hanyang Wengzhu.”

The corpulent envoy tapped his palm with the closed fan, his expression growing grave: “Not good, truly not good!”

He instructed his subordinates: “Quickly, continue submitting memorials to Hanyang Wengzhu’s side. To apologize and discuss peace, we must at least meet face to face!”

The subordinate departed with orders.

He himself dragged his corpulent body, hastening toward his room, calling to his attendants: “Grind ink for me. I must quickly write a letter to inform the King and Empress Dowager. Northern Wei coming at this time clearly intends to intercept!”

—

In the front hall of the Pingzhou government office, several treasure chests with opened lids sat on the floor, filled with gold, silver, and jewels that gleamed magnificently.

The Northern Wei envoy stood before the chests, bowing respectfully toward Wen Yu on the main seat: “I’ve long heard that Wengzhu possesses beauty that could topple cities, dignified grace, gentle brilliance and virtue, mild and virtuous temperament. My young master has long admired you, but because Wengzhu previously had a marriage engagement, my young master, upholding gentlemanly virtue, dared not presume to express his feelings. Now hearing that Southern Chen was disrespectful and Wengzhu angrily broke off the engagement, my young master also feels indignant on Wengzhu’s behalf. His heart is full of resentment yet he cannot dispel his admiration—he’s lost his appetite and fallen ill in bed. When the Marquis heard of this matter, he was angry at his son for not being assertive, and even more incensed that Wengzhu, the pearl of our Great Liang, was treated so disrespectfully by Southern Chen barbarians. He specially ordered this minor official to bring gifts to visit. If Wengzhu is interested in my young master, the Marquis’s household will select another auspicious day to come present betrothal gifts.”

Marriage matters have always been determined by parents’ orders and matchmakers’ words.

Wen Yu’s previous engagement with the Chen Prince, even though it was just a delaying tactic, was still negotiated and decided between Southern Chen’s side and her father king.

Now the Northern Wei envoy who came as matchmaker could only ask Wen Yu’s intentions directly.

The envoy was clearly doing this kind of matchmaking for the first time, looking rather uncomfortable.

Wen Yu, seated above, maintained an expression so calm it seemed cold, without the slightest trace of bashfulness. She got straight to the point: “Since this is a marriage alliance, it’s about mutually beneficial relations. What benefits are you offering Pingzhou?”

The envoy hadn’t expected Wen Yu to speak so directly and was stunned for a moment before confidently smiling and replying: “Whatever Southern Chen can promise Wengzhu, Northern Wei can as well.”

Wen Yu’s fingertips lightly tapped the armrest of her grand teacher’s chair, her tone casual: “Is that so? I want the two provinces of Yi and Xin. Will the Marquis of Shuobian give those too?”

The Northern Wei envoy’s expression changed, barely maintaining his smile: “If Wengzhu is sincere about allying with our Northern Wei, why say such jesting words?”

Wen Yu’s thin eyelids lifted slightly: “Jesting words?”

She seemed to smile: “Envoy, please return.”

Her smile was like sunlight shattering on a frozen lake surface—seemingly gentle but actually without the slightest warmth.

The envoy was momentarily stunned by that smile—both by her beauty and by her naturally commanding presence as someone who occupied a superior position. Coming to his senses, he hastily said: “Wengzhu, our Marquis is sincere about cooperating with Wengzhu. Please reconsider.”

Wen Yu looked at him with eyes like still water: “I’ve already stated my conditions. If Northern Wei is sincere, you might as well think it over carefully and give me an answer.”

The Northern Wei envoy wanted to say more, but the attendant standing at the door was already gesturing for him to leave. He could only depart with an unpleasant expression.

—

Zhao Bai entered carrying tea and said to Wen Yu: “As you instructed, we’ve let Southern Chen’s side know about Northern Wei sending people. The post house has submitted another memorial requesting an audience.”

Wen Yu picked up the tea and took a light sip, saying: “Leave them cooling for another day. Keep Northern Wei’s next moves under wraps—don’t let them catch wind of anything.”

Zhao Bai nodded: “Understood.”

Wen Yu then asked Li Xun, who stood below: “Those Southern Chen officials imprisoned in the jail—how are they now?”

Li Xun stepped forward and bowed: “That Southern Chen Minister of State occasionally has headaches and fevers. We’ve called physicians several times. The guards around him are clamoring to change to a different courtyard.”

Wen Yu asked: “Has the newly arrived envoy contacted them?”

Li Xun replied: “He requested to see them, but since you’ve been leaving the newly arrived envoy waiting, the subordinates haven’t dared let him visit.”

Wen Yu rested her forehead in thought, then said: “Set aside a courtyard and first settle that Southern Chen Minister of State there. Assign people to watch him.”

Li Xun bowed in acknowledgment, understanding that if they still needed to ally with Southern Chen in the future, treating this Minister of State too harshly at this moment would be of no benefit.

Moreover, once he was released, if he made any moves, they could gather even more information.

Wen Yu knew that having said this much, Li Xun would know what to do next, so she didn’t say more. Somewhat wearily rubbing her temples, she said: “These past days, what with flood control and disaster relief, and discussions about major alliance matters, everyone has worked hard. If there’s nothing more to report today, you may withdraw.”

After the strategists gradually filed out, Li Xun alone remained behind.

Wen Yu asked: “Does Minister Li have other matters?”

With no one else in the hall except Zhao Bai, Li Xun said: “Wengzhu previously ordered this official to investigate whether Pei Song had any connections with the criminal general Qin Yi’s family. After spending some time investigating, I only discovered that Pei Song’s father, Pei Jing, was sworn brothers with the elder brother of Qin Yi’s wife. However, because of the succession struggle case back then, Qin Yi’s wife’s clan was also implicated. Qin Yi’s brother-in-law retired from office and went into seclusion early on.”

Wen Yu’s hand massaging her temples stopped at her temple point. She said: “Continue investigating. Find Qin Yi’s wife’s clan.”

After Li Xun withdrew, Zhao Bai looked at Wen Yu’s pale yet indifferent expression and asked: “Is your head ailment acting up again? Shall I massage it for you?”

Wen Yu closed her eyes in assent.

After Zhao Bai massaged for quite a while, she asked: “Has there been any correspondence from sister-in-law’s side?”

Zhao Bai shook her head: “Perhaps because Pei Song has been campaigning and changing cities, and the Crown Princess lacks loyal servants by her side, it’s become more difficult to send letters than before.”

Wen Yu closed her eyes without speaking. Her sister-in-law and A’Yin were her only two remaining relatives in this world. Every additional day they remained in Pei Song’s hands was another day of anxiety for her.

When her power was weak it was manageable, but later as she gradually grew stronger, with Pei Song’s methods, he would inevitably use them as leverage to threaten her.

Once this thought arose, when Wen Yu opened her eyes again, only cold resolve remained: “How are those shadow guards in training?”

Zhao Bai said: “They still can’t directly confront Pei Song’s hounds, but they’re sufficient to serve as secret agents.”

Wen Yu indicated that Zhao Bai need not continue massaging and instructed: “Select the most capable ones and find a way to arrange them by sister-in-law’s side.”

She had to place her own people around Jiang Yichu, so that when circumstances changed, Jiang Yichu wouldn’t be isolated and helpless.

That night Wen Yu didn’t read, nor did she have Zhao Bai recite memorials to her. She sat alone beneath the lamplight, as if the candlelight was baking away her iron-forged exterior, drying out all the deeply buried confusion in this silent night.

The wedding dress hanging in the corner of the room flickered with golden light in the candlelight.

She glanced toward the wedding dress tailored for her in the style of a princess’s ceremonial robe. The long train dragged to the floor, with phoenixes embroidered in gold thread floating above the crimson fabric, as if truly born from fire.

This was sent over during the day by the wife of Chen Wei.

To avoid a rushed wedding departure, when Wen Yu first arrived in Pingzhou, Madam Chen had already arranged for embroiderers to make her wedding dress.

She had been too busy these days—Wen Yu herself had forgotten about this matter. Today Madam Chen said the wedding dress was finished and sent it over for her to try on to see if it fit. But with so many affairs entangling her, how could she have time to try on clothes? So she had left it here.

At this moment, Wen Yu merely looked at this magnificent wedding dress with an expression bland to the point of indifference, without the slightest thought of trying it on.

Whether marrying the Chen Prince or marrying Wei Qishan’s eldest son made no particular difference to her.

It was merely an alliance of interests.

What she wanted was only Yizhou and Xinzhou.

Whichever side could accept this condition would be her ally.

Yet for some reason, the image of Xiao Li covered in mud sleeping in the military tent suddenly surfaced before her eyes.

The candle flame was extinguished by cold wind blowing in through the window. The ripple that arose in her eyes at that instant was hidden in darkness.

—

Because of his merit in flood control, Xiao Li had now been promoted to vice general.

With both Southern Chen and Northern Wei sending people, Chen Wei had to return to the government office to help handle matters. He took over the task of rebuilding houses for villagers whose homes were destroyed by landslides.

He returned to the military camp quite late that day. When he went to Fan Yuan’s tent to report for roll call, upon entering he heard several military generals discussing the circumstances of the Northern Wei envoy’s meeting with Wen Yu today.

“I must say, Northern Wei wasn’t stingy with their gifts. I heard from several strategists about the gift list they sent—compared to the betrothal gifts Southern Chen gave our Wengzhu back then, it was only short one jade carved screen!”

Having just sat down, Xiao Li suddenly heard this and glanced at the general, asking: “Didn’t Northern Wei come to temporarily seek peace? What gift list and betrothal gifts?”

That general was speaking enthusiastically. Hearing Xiao Li ask, he smiled: “Brother Xiao, you weren’t present today, so you don’t know yet—that Northern Wei envoy also came to arrange a marriage for Wengzhu!”

Xiao Li’s brows immediately furrowed so tightly they could crush a fly. Anyone could hear his voice was extremely cold: “Arrange a marriage? How old is that old bastard Wei Qishan?”

Others only assumed his changed expression was due to being Wen Yu’s confidant, angry at the Wei family’s disrespect, and thought nothing more of it.

Knowing he had misunderstood, they laughed and explained: “Naturally Wei Qishan doesn’t have the shamelessness to seek to marry Wengzhu—it’s his son! Tch, claiming he’s long admired Wengzhu, but because she already had a marriage engagement, he didn’t dare reveal his feelings. Learning that Southern Chen publicly insulted Great Liang, he wanted to marry Wengzhu and stand up for her… Tsk, those flowery words really made one’s teeth ache!”

Xiao Li only knew Northern Wei had come this time to seek peace, but didn’t know it was this method of seeking peace.

His shoulders and back unconsciously tensed, his voice deepening: “What did Wengzhu say?”

The general who spoke first said: “Wengzhu demanded they offer the two provinces of Xin and Yi as betrothal gifts. Northern Wei’s side refused.”

Tan Yi, seated beside Xiao Li, continued: “We’re guarding Pingzhou and already have Tao Commandery. If we gain the two provinces of Xin and Yi as well, we can advance to attack or retreat to defend. Wengzhu’s foresight is profound, but whether with Northern Wei or Southern Chen, negotiating conditions to obtain these two prefectures won’t be easy.”

Xiao Li listened to all this in silence, not saying another word.

Before long, Fan Yuan returned and the generals stopped talking.

After Fan Yuan finished arranging their tasks for the next day, he specifically kept Xiao Li behind. He patted Xiao Li’s shoulder: “After Northern Wei sent people, Southern Chen’s side will be even more unable to keep their composure. Tomorrow will be the best opportunity to negotiate conditions while suppressing their arrogance. But to make them agree that once they conquer the two provinces of Xin and Yi in the future, these provinces will belong to us, we still need a strong dose of medicine. At the welcoming banquet, Wengzhu will arrange a sand table military demonstration. When the time comes, properly dampen their spirits.”

Xiao Li said: “This subordinate will certainly not fail in this mission.”

Returning to his military tent, he tossed and turned, unable to sleep.

Xiao Li lay fully clothed on his camp bed in the darkness, pillowing one arm, silently gazing at the tent ceiling.

The unwillingness and hidden resentment in his heart gnawed at him bit by bit.

In the past, he had indulged his dark thoughts to grow during countless nights, enviously resenting that Chen Prince he had never met.

But after Wei Qishan’s son also proposed marriage to Wen Yu, what he resented was suddenly only his own complete lack of anything.

Born in a muddy pit, growing up despised and loathed.

Even staying alive depended on fighting for food everywhere like a stray dog on the streets.

Even after crawling out of the mud later, he still carried the fishy mud smell soaked into his bones.

He could never become the kind of person others spoke of as worthy of her—someone refined and brilliant.

Xiao Li closed his eyes heavily, his chest feeling suffocatingly tight, as if something inside wanted to shriek.

He sat up, intending to go outside for air, but his palm inadvertently pressed on the cloak folded by his pillow. That unusually soft fabric conformed to his palm, seeming to slowly seep through the lines of his palm, merge into his blood, and wrap around his entire heart.

All the pain and restlessness were soothed in that instant. Xiao Li stared at that cloak for a good while.

She wanted Xinzhou and Yizhou as betrothal gifts.

—

In the Southern Chen Minister of State’s quarters, the doors and windows were covered from inside with black cloth before candles were lit.

The newly dispatched envoy, Vice Minister of Rites Fang Mingda, disguised as a servant, mixed in. His corpulent body sitting in the round chair rather resembled a Maitreya Buddha. Fearful of heat, sweat had already accumulated around his neck. Wiping with a handkerchief, he asked: “In Minister Sikong’s and Commander Jiang’s opinion, what should we do now?”

Jiang Yu, dressed as a guard, stood with folded arms without making a sound. Minister of State Sikong Wei, who had deliberately made himself ill with a cold in order to contact the outside under the pretext of seeing a doctor, coughed and said: “This old man and Commander Jiang also didn’t anticipate that Wei Qishan would successfully annex Yizhou at this time. We originally thought that on the southern battlefield, Pei Song could also tie him down. Human calculations ultimately cannot match heaven’s will.”

Fang Mingda harbored quite a bit of resentment, but these two—one was the Empress Dowager’s nephew, the other a high court official—neither were people he could afford to offend. He could only laugh along: “Heaven’s will being thus, what we can do is simply our human best…”

Jiang Yu coldly spoke up: “This isn’t human calculations failing to match heaven’s will—clearly we’ve all been outmaneuvered by Pei Song! If he had also tied down Wei Qishan in the south, and we successfully allied with Hanyang, that would be greatly disadvantageous to him. This move of his, seemingly abandoning the southern battlefield, actually throws all the conflict at us and Northern Wei. He, on the contrary, can completely free his hands to fully attack Wei Qishan in the north!”

Speaking to this point, he was somewhat gnashing his teeth: “Hateful that we only now see through his scheme!”

Hearing this, Minister of State Sikong Wei couldn’t help but be stunned. Finally he could only sigh deeply: “This youngster’s scheming is truly formidable. It seems Wei Qishan has also been outmaneuvered by him.”

Jiang Yu reflected: “We underestimated Pei Song. We all thought he and the Wen clan of Great Liang would fight to the death, and would never let that Hanyang Wengzhu gain the slightest advantage. But he deliberately, for the sake of the overall situation, indirectly helped Hanyang.”

Speaking to this point, his expression grew colder: “We want to annex the old Liang forces in Hanyang’s hands. That Hanyang Wengzhu is simply also planning for Southern Chen’s military authority. Just as we’re happy to watch Pei Song and Wei Qishan fight like snipe and clam, compared to letting Hanyang gain no advantage at all and Southern Chen successfully march into the Central Plains, Pei Song would certainly rather see us and Hanyang constantly fighting internally.”

Fang Mingda slapped the table: “Cunning! This youngster is truly cunning, full of schemes!”

Sikong Wei sighed: “Things having come to this, saying more is useless. Better to think about how we’ll persuade Hanyang to continue the alliance now that Northern Wei has inserted themselves.”

Fang Mingda decisively threw the problem to the two of them: “When meeting Hanyang Wengzhu tomorrow, our attitude must naturally be as humble as possible. But if their Great Liang uses this to make excessive demands, what should we do?”

Jiang Yu lowered his eyelids, roughly calculating in his mind before saying: “Although Northern Wei has inserted themselves, the conditions they can offer shouldn’t be much better than ours. Moreover, Wei Qishan’s main forces are still far away in the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, with Pei Song’s troops in between. Whatever Xin and Yi provinces have, Northern Wei’s side likely has too long a reach. If Hanyang is truly short-sighted enough to ally with Northern Wei, our Southern Chen’s tens of thousands of troops are not afraid of failing to breach this barrier formed by these few prefectures.”

After brief contemplation, Sikong Wei nodded: “Commander Jiang speaks reasonably. Tomorrow when Minister Fang goes to meet Hanyang Wengzhu, why not have Commander Jiang disguise himself as an attendant and go along? If necessary, use a sand table military demonstration to show them clearly the consequences of going to war with Southern Chen after choosing Wei Qishan.”

Fang Mingda’s eyes instantly squinted into slits with his smile: “Excellent! This method is excellent!”

He said to Sikong Wei: “Minister Sikong’s thinking is still thorough.”

Then cupping his hands toward Jiang Yu, his smile was as welcoming as dough: “Commander Jiang is truly resourceful and strategic, worthy of being our Southern Chen’s Hundred Victory General. Tomorrow, we’ll trouble Commander Jiang.”

Jiang Yu only said: “That Hanyang Wengzhu is probably not simple. When meeting tomorrow, Vice Minister Fang had better be alert.”

Fang Mingda repeatedly said “naturally,” then asked: “As the saying goes, know yourself and your enemy to win every battle. Since we’re doing a military demonstration, does this subordinate need to go gather some intelligence about Pingzhou’s generals?”

Jiang Yu lightly rubbed his fingertips. The contours of his profile were especially clear in the candlelight. In Southern Chen, he was the dream husband of countless noble ladies—not only because of his status as the Empress Dowager’s nephew, making him of imperial lineage, but also because that face was truly strikingly handsome.

Hearing Fang Mingda’s words, he seemed to smile. But in those pupils reflecting candlelight, only cold darkness remained: “This general has been analyzing every battle fought by several famous Pingzhou generals since I was fifteen. I’m extremely familiar with their troop deployment patterns. If tomorrow’s contest weren’t a demonstration, I’d like to try what it tastes like to slaughter all of Great Liang’s famous pass-defending generals!”